THE HOLLY. 403 
but it frequently happens that the plants lose their leaves, 
and are so severely interrupted in their progress, by being 
transplanted, that they require more than two years to recover. 
This casualty never occurs when the roots of the plants are in 
a proper or fibrous state. The frequency of their removal 
should be regulated by the health or growth of the plants. 
It seldom happens, however, that the plants sustain much 
injury by being transplanted, provided they have not grown 
many years in one place, that the proper season for trans- 
planting them has been adopted, and that care has been 
taken in preserving their roots from exposure to drought. 
The plants in the nursery lines should be kept clear of weeds, 
and the space between the lines should be dug over every 
September. The opening up of the soil, and disturbing the 
roots at this season, has a wonderful effect in causing the 
roots to form numerous spongioles, which adapt the plant for 
removal, even when of a large size. 
In Scotland, the holly abounds in the natural woods on the 
banks of the Dee, the Spey, and the Findhorn. At Gordon 
Castle, and Orton on the Spey, and at Darnaway Castle, on the 
Findhorn, the best specimens of the tree measure about fifty feet 
high, with boles from two to two feet six inches in diameter. 
The bark of the tree appears to be an indispensable article 
in the manufacture of birdlime. The timber is white and 
hard, and susceptible of a fine polish. It is therefore much 
esteemed in cabinet-making, turnery, and wood-engraving. 
When dyed black it is a substitute for ebony. 
The number of the cultivated varieties of the tree is very 
great, particularly of the gold and silver variegated sorts. 
These differ in their shade of colouring, and in the breadth 
of the margin and structure of their leaves and prickles. 
They are cultivated in nurseries by budding and grafting on 
the common holly, and are known under the popular name of 
gold-edged, silver-edged, gold-blotched, silver-blotched, hedge- 
hog, laurel-leaved, etc. The last named, and all its varieties 
yield smooth, massive foliage of a dark glossy green, and are 
exceedingly beautiful. 
